The city says its nothing compared to the tons of trash they'll see next week.

"We move about 800 to a thousand tons of materials off the streets. It's like moving a small city out of a town in a week," says Madison Streets Superintendent Al Schumacher.

The city is laying down some ground rules.

Some reminders:

Do NOT push trash in cardboard boxes. Boxes must be flattened and placed in the green recycling carts or bundled for recycling.

Keep refuse and recycling separate when placed at the curb. Do not pile trash or large items around the refuse or recycling carts.

Do not place trash in recycling carts.

Put all refuse at the curb in the tan refuse carts or trash bags.

No loose piles of trash/garbage.

Do not pile trash or recyclables on top of furniture or appliances.

Keep larger metal items separate from other material so that it can be recycled.

Most appliances, including microwaves, TVs and computer monitors require a fee.

But the biggest message this year, donate.

For three days the city will set up drop off sites at three locations.

"They're going to put semis out and trailers out for people to drop off good reusable items," Shumacher says.

The city hopes to have less stuff on the street but that still means students have to haul it.

And some probably won't.

"I guess if they offered a way to get your stuff from your place to the donation site it would be a little bit easier. I don't know if everyone has access to a car to bring their stuff to the center," says UW student Sean Dolan.

Donation Stations:

The City of Madison is partnering with University Health Services, St. Vincent DePaul and Goodwill to provide drop-off centers downtown where movers can donate reusable items and food they not longer need, at:

Holy Redeemer Parking Lot, 120 W. Johnson

August 11-13, from 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.

UW Lot 51 behind McDonald's on Regent St.

August 11-13, from 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Old Mifflin St. Co-Op at the corner of Bassett and W. Mifflin St.

August 11-13 from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. and August 14 from 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.

*******

MADISON (WKOW) -- The big weekend for student move-out and move-in happens August 14 and 15, and the City of Madison Streets Department wants to remind everyone of the rules of refuse and recycling.

Residents in the downtown area who have their trash and recycling collected on Thursdays can put their carts at the curb starting Monday, August 10. Streets crews will empty them every day that week to make them available to students, as well.

Some reminders:

Do NOT push trash in cardboard boxes. Boxes must be flattened and placed in the green recycling carts or bundled for recycling.

Keep refuse and recycling separate when placed at the curb. Do not pile trash or large items around the refuse or recycling carts.

Do not place trash in recycling carts.

Put all refuse at the curb in the tan refuse carts or trash bags.

No loose piles of trash/garbage.

Do not pile trash or recyclables on top of furniture or appliances.

Keep larger metal items separate from other material so that it can be recycled.

Most appliances, including microwaves, TVs and computer monitors require a fee.

Donation Stations:

The City of Madison is partnering with University Health Services, St. Vincent DePaul and Goodwill to provide drop-off centers downtown where movers can donate reusable items and food they not longer need, at: